Our Client, Willie Lee Griffin, Jr. and Griffin Mortuary, is finally vindicated by the Texas Funeral Service Commission and a Lubbock County Civil Court.
A lawsuit brought against Willie Lee Griffin, Jr., owner and founder of Griffin Mortuary in Lubbock, was tossed out of civil court on Friday morning with no finding of fault. Our Firm secured the win after a week-long jury trial. Mr. Griffin and our legal team worked very hard on this case and it is so rewarding to finally vindicate his name. But the story of vindicating the revered funeral home and its charismatic owner spans far longer.
In late 2013, Charlette Tanner-Starr and Marcie Hall filed a complaint with the Texas Funeral Service Commission, alleging that Mr. Griffin mishandled the funeral of their father, the late Pastor Charles Tanner. The Commission – the authority on funerary practice standards – tossed the complaint with no finding of fault. Apparently unsatisfied, Ms. Tanner-Starr and Ms. Hall, the plaintiffs, filed a civil lawsuit against Mr. Griffin in early 2015, seeking $2,000,000 for alleged mental anguish. Just days later, the plaintiffs and their attorneys made a series of press releases against Mr. Griffin on KMAC and everythinglubbock.com.
Although several Lubbock residents were prepared to testify in Mr. Griffin’s defense, the case was tossed before the opportunity even arose. After the verdict was reached, interviews with the jurors revealed that Mr. Griffin’s testimony about his passion for serving the Lubbock community hit home. After nearly two years of litigation and hours of witness testimony, the record has been set straight. The plaintiffs received a take-nothing verdict, and are liable for court costs.